School understood to be revising plans for huge sports dome and facilities in Cheam

A school is understood to be revising its plans for a huge sports dome, running track, pavilion and astroturf pitches.

It comes amid complaints that Epsom Council failed to consult widely enough over the plans submitted by Nonsuch High School for Girls in Ewell Road, Cheam.

The proposed dome would cover three netball courts next to Warren Farm, grassland and woods owned by conservation charity the Woodland Trust.

An Epsom Council spokesman said: "It is understood that the applicants will be submitting revised plans.

"The borough council will therefore re-consult by sending fresh letters and posting new site notices in different locations so that the proposals will have been very well publicised, with a further 21 days for people to comment."

Councillor Mary Burstow, who represents Cheam ward on Sutton Council, said she was dismayed by how poorly residents had been consulted by Epsom Council.

Resident Neill Denny from nearby Holmwood Road

Coun Burstow, who has concerns over traffic, said: "The council appeared to think that putting the mandatory public notification on a fence nobody could even reach, let alone read was acceptable.

"They only sent letters to nine households on Ewell Road. There are no signs in Nonsuch Park, Warren Farm or Nonsuch Mansion House informing people of the application."

The council spokesman said: "Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has complied with and exceeded the statutory requirements in terms of publicity for this application including letters delivered by hand to the residents likely to be most affected."

Resident Neill Denny, who lives in nearby Holmwood Road, said he had put up notices around Warren Farm with council contact details in case people want to object.

He said Coun Burstow is justified in complaining that the formal planning notice was placed somewhere that pedestrians cannot reach.

He said: "There seems to be a real sense that the Cheam side of the school, which is in London Borough of Sutton, have not been properly consulted or informed."

Many people have commented on our original online story.

One said: "I am a naturalist and one of the conservation volunteers at Warren Farm who has been working there throughout the winter. I am already very concerned about the amount of light pollution coming from that area, spilling into the nature reserve."

Another, who described the planned dome as an "ugly excrescence" said: "It would be nice to see some views on this proposal, from people who actually live at addresses such as Ewell Road, Queen's Acre, Anne Boleyn's Walk, and other local roads, instead of people from far distant locations."

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here